Shloka 120

उमामहेश्वरव्रतं—पञ्चाक्षरमन्त्रस्य माहात्म्यं, न्यासः, जपविधिः, सदाचारः, विनियोगः

Devanagari script

मन्त्रमुच्चारयेद्वाचा जपयज्ञः स वाचिकः शनैरुच्चारयेन्मन्त्रम् ईषद् ओष्ठौ तु चालयेत्

Transliteration

mantramuccārayedvācā japayajñaḥ sa vācikaḥ śanairuccārayenmantram īṣad oṣṭhau tu cālayet

Translation

若以声音朗诵真言，则此持诵之祭称为“语诵”（vācika）。应当柔和而缓慢地诵出真言，只令双唇微微动摇。

Word by Word

• mantram: the mantra

• uccārayet: should pronounce/utter

• vācā: with the voice

• japa-yajñaḥ: the sacrifice in the form of japa (mantra-repetition)

• saḥ: that

• vācikaḥ: verbal/aloud

• śanaiḥ: slowly, gently

• uccārayet: should recite

• mantram: the mantra

• īṣat: slightly

• oṣṭhau: the lips

• tu: indeed/and

• cālayet: should move

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic teaching on japa to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It prescribes the correct method of vācika-japa (audible mantra repetition), a foundational discipline supporting liṅga-pūjā by purifying speech (vāk) and stabilizing devotion through regulated recitation.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By framing japa as a yajña, it implies that communion with Pati (Śiva) is attained through disciplined offering—here, the offering of sound and intention—guiding the paśu away from pāśa through sādhana.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Vācika-japa: slow, gentle audible recitation with minimal lip movement—an outer-to-inner training that can mature into subtler japa forms aligned with Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā.